The College View 2006 Week 6

This is only the fourth meeting between Ohio State (5-0) and Bowling Green (3-2). Ohio State leads the series 3-0. Surprisingly, the first game between these schools was in 1992. Even more surprising is that the Falcons made it a challenge for Ohio State in two of those three games. Losing 17-6 in '92 and 24-17 in 2003.

Bowling Green brings a run heavy offense into the Horseshoe Saturday at 3:30. The Falcons are averaging 208 yards rushing per game. This might be the first team (this season) to challenge the Ohio State defense by running the ball for four quarters. When BG does run, look for Freddie Barnes, Chris Bullock, or Dan Macon to be carrying the ball. Freddie Barnes is a do-it-all player who will line up at both halfback and quarterback. On average, Barnes has been gaining 120 yards of offense each game this season.

On the defensive side of the ball Bowling Green is 12th best in the country in passing yards allowed. The Falcons have been holding opposing offenses to only 147 yards passing each game. However, the Falcons have played Wisconsin, Buffalo, Florida International, Kent State, and Ohio this season. None of those teams have a pass oriented offense. On the downside, Bowling Green is allowing over 150 yards rushing and 30 points a game. Terrel White, Erique Dozier, and Diyral Briggs are players to watch on defense for the Falcons.

Ohio State looked very good last week at Iowa. Jim Tressel stresses that he prepares his team to play its best football at the end of the season. If that wasn't the best the Buckeyes can play, I'm scared for Michigan and Ohio State's bowl opponent.

The Buckeyes offense is averaging 154 yards rushing, 232 yards passing and is scoring over 32 points a contest. Antonio Pittman is consistently gaining over 110 yards each game and Chris “Beanie” Wells has been carrying the ball in short yardage situations. Look for both to have big games against Bowling Green.

The defense has given up 49 points...all season. The Laurinaitus lead defensive unit has 11 interceptions, 18 sacks, and 43 tackles for loss. The “Little Animal” already has 41 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks this season. In preparation for next week's game against Javon Ringer, Jehuu Caulcrick and Michigan State; Bowling Green is the perfect team to give the defense a glorified practice against the run.

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Ohio State currently has a 12 game winning streak. After Saturday's game the streak will be at 13. The only question is whether the Buckeyes will continue their streak of covering the spread. That's right, conservative Jim Tressel has not only defeated the last 12 opponents, but he has also won each game by enough points to defeat Vegas as well. Has Tressel truly converted himself into Jimmy “The Spread”? I wouldn't be surprised to see Jimmy wearing a green leisure suit with a diamond encrusted dollar sign around his neck at the press conference after covering the 34.5 point spread.

Ohio State 48, Bowling Green- 10


No. 7 Texas at No. 14 Oklahoma (plus 4.5)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: ABC

The play of Jamaal Charles, Selvin Young, and Limas Sweed have made things a little easier for freshman quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy's pass efficiency rating of 172.97 is fourth best in the country. However, Texas' offense is still dependent on the offensive line and running backs Charles and Young. Even with the seven point game against Ohio State, Texas is averaging 42 points and 205 yards rushing.

Adrian Peterson has been the man for Oklahoma. The Heisman hopeful is averaging 195 yards of offense and two touchdowns every game. Quarterback Paul Thompson has been better than expected and sophomore Malcolm Kelly is Oklahoma's big play wide receiver.

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The first game between Oklahoma and Texas was in 1900 . The first game played in Dallas was in 1911. Starting in 1929, 76 straight games have been played between these proud programs in Dallas. Before last year's impressive victory, Texas had lost the previous five Red River Shootouts. Oklahoma is 5-2 against Texas with Bob Stoops as head coach. After Saturday's game the Sooners will be 5-3 and Peterson's Heisman trophy hopes may be tarnished.

Texas- 42, Oklahoma- 24


No. 9 LSU at No. 5 Florida (plus 1.5)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: CBS

LSU has dominated every opponent this season except for Auburn. Coincidentally Auburn is the only team LSU has played that has a winning record. Playing against inferior opponents has helped the Tigers' defense, they rank first in pass defense, total defense, and pass efficiency defense. LSU ranks second in points allowed (7.4), and 11th in rushing yards allowed. Craig Steltz and Jonathan Zenon have combined for seven interceptions. Defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Chase Pittman have combined for ten of the team's 19 sacks.

The offense has benefited as well. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell has lead the offense to 38 points a contest and he is averaging 253 yards per game. Russell throws to a trio of talented receivers in Craig Davis, Dwayne Bowe, and Early Doucet.

Florida also has a stout defense. The Gators have only been allowing 50 yards rushing a game. Defensive back Reggie Nelson already has four interceptions this season and safety Tony Joiner leads the team with 32 tackles. Florida has been prone to giving up yards via the pass. Unfortunately for Florida, LSU likes to pass.

Chris Leak's arm and Tim Tebow's legs have helped the Gators' offense rack up 2,192 yards in five games. The question Saturday is how much time, if any, will running back DeShawn Wynn get? If Wynn is unable to play, look for sophomore Kestahn Moore to carry the load.

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The last time Urban Meyer lost as a head coach in the month of September was 2003. His Utah team lost 26-28 to Texas A&M. October has been much worse for Meyer. Last season two of Florida's three losses came in October. One of the losses in October was to LSU. History repeats itself as Florida loses its first game in October for the second straight season under Meyer.

LSU- 24, Florida- 20


No. 13 Tennessee at No. 10 Georgia (plus 2.5)
Kickoff: 7:45
TV: ESPN

The Bulldogs have not looked like the tenth best team in the country. Georgia’s pathetic performances against Mississippi and Colorado cost the team valuable poll positions. However, they did win and that’s all that should really matter. Joe Tereshinski is going to make his first start since suffering a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss the last four games. Will that jump start the Bulldogs’ offense against Tennessee and their ball-hawk defense?

Linebackers Marvin Mitchell and Jerod Mayo, with defensive back Jonathan Hefney, have been beasts on defense for the Volunteers. Mitchell has 52 tackles and Hefney has 42. Jerod Mayo has seven tackles for loss and four of them are sacks.

Tennessee is having a stellar season on offense. Future NFL wide receivers Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain are Erik Ainge's favorite targets. Swain and Meachem have caught ten of Ainge’s 12 touchdown
passes. LaMarcus Coker and Montario Hardesty have been splitting time at tailback.

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This game is the night cap for a great day of SEC football. Georgia has won five out of the last six games against Tennessee. The Volunteers lead the all-time series 11-9-2. Even though Tereshinski is back at quarterback for the Bulldogs and their defense is allowing less than a touchdown a game, it looks to be too much of a challenge for the secondary to stop Tennessee’s great wide receivers Jayson Swain and Robert Meachem.

Tennessee- 24, Georgia- 20


Western Michigan at Ohio (plus 3)
Kickoff: 7:00

Ohio has lost its last three games. In those three losses OU was not able to score in double digits. The Bobcats are now 1-1 in the MAC and need a win to stop the tail spin. To win this week, the offense needs to improve. Being ranked 114th in rushing (66 yards a game) and 113th in total offense is a big reason why the Bobcats continue to lose. Kalvin McRae can't gain yards if there isn't a hole to run through.

Western Michigan has won its last three games after losing the season opener against Indiana. The Mustangs are 2-0 in the MAC and have won 15 of the last 20 games against the Bobcats. Like OU, Western's offense isn't very impressive either. They are only passing for 124 yards a game (111th) and running for 131 yards. However, the offense has still been able to average over 27 points a game.

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The Mustangs’ defense is putting them in a position to win. Senior outside linebacker Ameer Ismail leads the team in sacks (5), tackles (34) and tackles for loss (8). As a team Western Michigan leads the nation with a plus two turnover margin. Their defense is third in the country averaging four sacks a game. Quarterback Austin Everson and the Ohio offense are in for a long night. Who will leave the game first, Everson or the fans?

Western Michigan- 31, Ohio- 10


The View's Record
Last Week: 4-1, 3-2 against the spread
Season: 16-7, 14-9 against the spread
(Matt Gutridge is a freelance writer for the Eagle-Gazette. Contact him by e-mail at TheCollegeView@hotmail.com.)